8．The best Mother's Day gift I ever received was a magnolia（木兰）tree．At first，it was a tired little thing，but it was mine，and I know I would treasure it．
Magnolia trees were my mother's favorite．We had one in the front yard of our house when I was growing up．I can still remember Mom's pleasure upon seeing the buds．"Oh，look，"she'd cry out every year，"the magnolia tree is going to bloom（开花）-just in time for my birthday．"And sure enough，on April 19，her birthday，the graceful pink-and-white flowers would be all over the branches，announcing the arrival of spring．
Back then，I didn't find the blooming of a tree to be an event worthy of celebration．A new toy，a pretty dress or a trip to the amusement park-those were exciting．But my mother had a way of appreciating the smallest things as wonders．A baby's smile，or a call from an old friend filled her with happiness．
On the first Mother's Day following her death six years ago，I wasn't sure how I'd manage．Reminders of my mother's absence seemed to be everywhere．
That Sunday morning I awoke to a quiet house，with warm sun streaming through the windows．I wondered where my husband had gone with our two daughters，Kira，4，and Sophie，9 months．As I was relaxing in bed，enjoying the peace，Kira suddenly burst through the bedroom door．
"Look outside，Mommy!"she ordered．There，in the yard，David was digging a hole．Next to him was a little tree whose roots were wrapped．
"It's a magnolia tree，"Kira said，though I didn't need to be told．I raised the window and called out to David．"Happy Mother's Day!"he said．
It was．Although I didn't have my mother any longer，I had her tree，and each year since，I've had her enthusiasm（激情）．Now when we pull up to our house on a bright spring day，I say to my daughters，"Oh look!The magnolia's about to bloom．"And when it does，we admire its beauty and use it as a chance to talk about my mother and her love for flowers．
41．What time does the magnolia bloom according to the passage？A
A．In spring．
B．In summer．
C．During the writer's birthday．
D．Around Mother's Day．
42．What impresses the writer most about her mother wasD．
A．her care of children
B．her love for flowers
C．her devotion to family
D．her appreciation of life
43．By saying"I had her tree"（Paragraph 8），the writer most probably implies thatC．
A．the magnolia tree was just her mother's favorite
B．she owned the same kind of tree as her mother once had
C．the same kind of tree could often remind her of her mother
D．the tree could take the place of her mother in her memory
44．The writer's purpose in writing the passage is toD．
A．describe her happy family life
B．recall her childhood experiences
C．show how she loves magnolia trees
D．express her love for her dead mother．
分析 文章大意：作者由在母亲节收到的礼物--木兰树，而回忆起了自己的母亲对木兰树的特殊情感．
解答 41．A 推理判断题．根据文章第二段最后一句话the graceful pink-and-white flowers would be all over the branches，announcing the arrival of spring可知木兰花开时正是预示着春天的到来．因此答案选A．
42．D 细节理解题．根据文章第三段最后两句话But my mother had a way of appreciating the smallest things as wonders．A baby's smile，or a call from an old friend filled her with happiness可知作者的母亲对生命的欣赏之情．因此答案选D．
43．C 推理判断题．根据文章第八段第一句话Although I didn't have my mother any longer，…and each year since，I've had her enthusiasm（激情）．可知同样的木兰树会让作者想起她的母亲．因此答案选C．
44．D 写作意图题．通过对文章整体理解可知作者是想通过写自己在母亲节收到的礼物--木兰树，回忆自己的母亲对木兰树的特殊情感，以表达作者对母亲的爱．因此答案选D．
点评 本篇文章是人物故事类阅读理解．人物故事类阅读理解是记叙文文体，是高考常见得选材之一，它注重考查考生通过阅读把握故事梗概，获取有效信息的能力，其难度较小，要求考生平时加强对这一类文章的阅读，了解记叙文基本要素，在做题时要结合上下文做出正确的选择．
